In his seven seasons with the Dolphins, Smythe caught 132 passes for 1,228 yards and three touchdowns. Above all else, this has the look of a culture signing, as Smythe spent the 2018 season with Bears head coach Ben Johnson when Johnson was the Dolphins’ wide receivers coach. Smythe played on 365 offensive snaps last season — the fewest since his rookie year — and was used primarily as a run blocker. We’d expect him to play a similar role in 2025 as long as Cole Kmet is healthy.

The Dolphins released Smythe in February after he caught nine passes for 53 yards during the 2024 season. A former fourth-round pick of the Dolphins, Smythe has not exceeded 35 receptions or 400 receiving yards in his seven seasons. It’s his blocking abilities the Bears are interested in. Ryan Poles with new head coach Ben Johnson has already added Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson to the offense. Adding in Smythe would continue to improve the Bears’ blocking for Caleb Williams and potentially Ashton Jeanty if he is the pick at No. 10.

The Dolphins drafted Smythe with a 2018 fourth-round NFL draft pick and while never cleared 400 receiving yards in a single season, he successfully contributed to the offense’s successes as a blocker. The 29-year-old will likely sign on with another team soon enough, filling a similar role.

It was a typical outing for Smythe, who finished the 2023 season with 35 receptions for 366 scoreless yards. We’re now two years into Mike McDaniel’s tenure as the Dolphins’ head coach, and over that span, tight ends have offered little to know fantasy upside on a week-to-week basis. Miami is in need of an upgrade at the position, but it’s hard to know how much fantasy upside a tight end can carry with Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and De’Von Achane absorbing targets. Smythe will be a fade next season even if he is Miami’s TE1.